Overhead railway-switch



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheef. 1. F. SOHRAUDNER.

OVERHEAD RAILWAY SWITCH. N01 434,840. Patented Aug. 19, 1890.

(No Model.)

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. F. SOHRAUDNER. OVERHEAD RAILWAY SWITCH.

No. 434,840. Patented Aug. 19, 1890. V

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK SCHRAUDNER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

OVERH EAD RAI LWAY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 434,840, dated August19, 1890. Application filed April 2, 1890. Serial No. 346,306. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK SCHRAUD- NER, of the city of St. Louis, inthe State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Overhead Railway- Switches for Slaughter-Houses, &c., ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to an overhead switch in which the switch-railswings-on'a pivoted hanger instead of being itself hinged to the fasttrack-rail, from which it is swung; in which also the switch is operatedby an adjustable crank-throw, that at the limit of its throw invariablybrings the switch in registering line, respectively, with either themain track or the side track; and the invention consists in features ofnovelty hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

Figure I is an under perspective view of my system of overhead hangingrails and shows the switch-rail on line with the main track, its pivotalend suspended on a hanger, which hanger is itself pivotally suspendedfrom above, thereby avoiding the necessity of a direct hinge attachmentof the rails themselves. Fig. II is a bottom View with the switch-railclosed to the main track, the siding open. Fig. III is a like view withthe switch-rail closed to the siding. Fig. IVis an enlarged detail ofthe switch-rail and of the main-track rail, and shows the concavo-convexabutting joint between the same. Fig. V is a detail of thesliding-hanger with'a cross-section of its angle attachment-lug and ofthe slotted bearer-plate in which the slid ing bolt moves, which boltcarries the pendent sliding hanger. Fig. VI is a side view or invertedelevation of the operative switchstem; and Fig. VII is adetail of thepivotal switch-hanger, with a cross-section of its angle attachment-lugand of the bearer-plate to which it is pivotally attached, and shows themeans of attachment of said pivot-bolt.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the stationary main hangers,whose perforated attachment angle-lugs 2 fit against the surmountingbeam 9 or other object alike numbered, that supports theoverhead-railway system, the said stationary hanger being firmly securedto said beam by the screw-bolts 3, that preferably pass through and areseated in said beam, and are there secured with the hangers they hold bythe screw-nuts 4, which engage on the screw ends of said bolts.

5 represents the pendent angle-hooks at the lower ends of the stationaryhangers and of all the other hangers yet to be described, and whichpendent hooks sustain, respectively, the main-track rails 6, the sidingrails 7, and the switch-rails 8, which are also secured to said hangersby the bolts or rivets 10.

11 represents a bearer-plate, which has a screw-threaded perforation 12,as shown in Fig. VII, through near themiddle of said plate, for thepurpose yet to be described. 13 are screw bolts that pass through thebearer-beam ll and through near the ends of said bearerplate, and 14 arenuts that engage on the screw-tips of said bolts and secure theattachment of the bearer-plate to said beam.

15 represents a pivotally-attached hanger whose perforated attachmentangle-lug 16 fits and Works against the bearer-plate 11, and thesquare-headed screw-bolt 17 presents upward through the perforation ofthe said angle-lug and its screw engages in the aforesaid screwthreadedperforation 12 in the middle of said bearer-plate, the square head ofsaid screwbolt providing the means with a Wrenchfor screwing it up toits seat, which, however, is effected before the attachment of thebearerplate 11 to the beam 9. The upper end of said screw-bolt 17extends beyond the bearerplate, and the jam-nut 18 is screwed thereonuntil it is seated on the upper surface of said bearer-plate. Ananti-friction washer 19 is mounted on said bolt between its square headand the angle-lug of said pivotal hanger, or an integral collar-flangeto the head of the bolt may be used instead of said washer and be alikenumbered. A socket 20 is recessed in the upper side of the bearer-platell, and thus room is provided for said jam-nut and for the extended endof the bolt 17.

The end of the switch-rail that is supported by the pivotally-attachedhanger 15 is se sured to said hanger by one of the aforesaid rivets orbolts 10, and is under the control of the pivot action of said hanger,as said pivothanger itself is by the 'operative action of theswitch-stem 21 and its throw-rod 22,hereinafter described. It will thusbe seen that the location of the usual hinges connecting the switch-railto the main-track rail is dispensed with, thereby providing a clear,unobstructed track, so that the carrier-wheels from which the carcass ofthe animal is suspended may have free passage. It will also be seen thatone of the stationary hangers is secured to the beam almost immediatelyadjacent to the attachment of the pivotal hanger, so that the end of themain rail next the switch-rail and whose extreme end surmounts theanglehook 5 of said pivotal hanger is mainly supported by the adjacentstationary hanger, it having a loose surmount of the hook of thepivot-hanger, so as not to obstruct its pivotal aotion'and yet toprovide a re-enforce hold when the weight of the loaded carrier-truck isimmediately above it. The stationary hanger thus bears the main burdenof that end of the main track and its load, and said track-rail issecured to it from lateral displacement by one of the bolts or rivets10. The pivot end of the switch-rail is of a convex form and theabutting end of the maintrack rail in the continuous-track line withwhich it works is of a concave form, so that together they make aconeavo-convex joint 23, as shown in Fig. III, and still more clearly inthe enlarged view thereof in Fig. IV. Thus it will be seen that thisconcavo-convex joint in the track prevents the usual opening at theouter side of the switch-jointincident to the switching of the rail tothe siding when the usual obstructive hinge is used.

24 represents the perforated junction bearer-plate common to thesuspension attachment of both the main track and the siding at theswitch ends thereof. The ends of said junction bearer-plate are securedto the bearer beam or beams by the screw-bolts 25, that pass throughsaid beam and the perforations on the ends of said plate, where they aresocured, and secure the plate by the screwnuts 26.

27 represents the hanger whose hook 5 sustains the end of the maintrack, with which the variable end of the switch-rail connects when saidswitch lines with said main track, and to which hangersaid end of themain track is secured byone of the bolts or rivets 10. The angleattachment perforated lug 28 of said hanger is secured to thebearer-plate 24 and to the bearer-beam above said plate by thescrew-bolt 29, which passes through said beam, through the perforationsuitably located in said bearer-plate, and through the perforation insaid angle-lug, which angle-lug is seated to said bearer-plate and issecured by the screw-nut 30, which en gages on the screwtip of the bolt29, and thereby secures in suspension the hanger and track-rail attachedthereto. The further extension of the main track is held in suspensionby certain of the aforesaid hangers 1, whose angle lugs are bolted tothe bearer-beam, as has been already described.

31 represents the hanger whose hook 5 sustains the end of thesiding-track, with which the variable end of the switch-rail connectswhen said switch lines with said siding-track, and to which hanger saidconnecting end of the siding-track is secured by one of thebolts orrivets 10. The angle attachment perforated lug 32 of said hanger isseated to the same bearer-plate 24 as that to which the hanger 27 issecured, and is secured to said bearer-plate and to the beam above saidplate by the screw-bolt 33, which passes through said beam, through theperforation suitably located in said bearer-plate, and through theperforation in said angle-lug, which angle-lug is secured to said bearerplate and beam by the screw-nut 34, that engages on the screwtip of saidbolt, and which thereby secures in suspension the hanger andsiding-track rail attached thereto. A recess 77 on the outer edge of thelower end of the hanger31,which recess stops short of the angle-hook 5,allows free passage for the switch-rail as it passes to and from itsconnection with the side track, while the extension of said angle-hookbeneath said recess forms a re-enforee hold for the extreme variable endof the switch-rail when it is thrown in line with the siding, theangle-hook of the hanger 27 providing a reenforce hold for the same whenit is in line with the main track. The further extension of the sidetrack is held in suspension by certain of the aforesaid hangers 1, whoseanglelugs are bolted to the bearer-beam, as has been already described.

35.represents the combined integral switchbearer slide-plate and anglebracket-bar. The switch-bearer-slide end 36 of said integral combinationis formed of a fiat laterallycurvilinear plate that has'a correspondingare to that described by the switch-rail in its movements from the mainline to the siding and back. The middle part of said plate has a swell37 or increased thickness of plate, for a purpose soon to be described.The ends of said curvilinear flat portion of said integral combinationare provided with bolt-holes 38. Screw-bolts are passed through andseated in the bearer beam or beams 9 and through said bolt-holes 38,when said combined switch sliding bearer-plate and anglebar are elevatedto their position on the un- ICC der side of the beams, and thescrew-nuts 40 are then screw-seated on the screw-tips of said bolts 39and securely hold said combination bearer-plate to the bearer-beams.

41 represents an elongated curvilinear slot in the switch-bearer plate36, whose arc runs parallel with the curved edges of said plate, andsaid slot is surmounted by an enlarged channel-groove recess 42, asshown in Fig. V, in which the square head 43 of thetraveleubolt 44slides as the switch operates. The said bolt 44 passes through and isseated in both the curvilinear slot 41 andthe perforate angle-lugs '43of the switch-hanger 49, the angle hook 5 of which hanger carries thetraveling end of the switch-rail, which rail is secured to said hangerby one of the bolts or rivets 10, and said hanger itself is securedthrough its angle-lug 4:3 bythe screw-nut 45, which engages on theprojecting screw-tip end of said traveler-bolt 44. The traveler end ofthe switch-rail is thus securely held in its passage between the hangers27 and 31 in the process of switching.

46 represents an integral, or, it may be, a bolt-attached lug thatprojects from the rear of the switch-han ger, and in the perforation 47of said lug the actuating-hook 48 of the aforesaid operative throw-rod22 engages. The perforate swell rear end 50 of said op: erative rodprovides a seat for the opera tive tie-bolt 51, that adjustably connectsthe actuating devices of the switch.

52 represents the angle bracket-bar that integrally extends rearwardfrom the switchbearer slide-plate, and is thus firmly held, both inparallel position, immediately beneath the bearer-beams, and inundeviating connection with the switch-hanger, which the switchingdevices control.

53 represents a pendent adjustable hangerplate that is secured to thevertical section of the angle-bar by screw-bolts 54, which pass throughtheir perforate seats 55 in the said ngle-bar and through the slots 56in the hanger-plate, the said slots providing the means for theadjustment of said plate as regards the respective positions of theswitch rail and of the rails to'which it switches. When the brackethanger-plate is thus adjusted to the position required and the boltsinserted, the screw-nuts 57 are turned in engagement on the screw-tipsof said bolts, so as to secure it in its adjusted position.

58 represents two forwardly-projecting lugs that are integral with saidhanger-plate, and 59 are perforate bearings in said lugs, in which thependent actuating switch-stem 21 is seated and works. The saidswitch-stem is of a com-.

pound double-knuckle adjustable-crank construction, and is constitutedof the following parts: The crank-head has a swell perforate neck 60, inwhich the shoulder-arm 61 of said stem is seated, and in which it issecured by being riveted or otherwise suitably fastened.

62 is an elongated slot that runs longitudi-' nally of said crank-head,but is closed at each end. The said crank-head slot provides the meansfor the adjustment of the attachment of the tie coupling-bolt 51, whichprojects from its perforate seat in the swell-head of theoperating-rod,whieh adjustment is set and secured by the screw-nut 63,which engages on the screw-tip of said bolt. 64 represents a pendentcollar on the lower end of the shoulder-arm of said actuating-stem,which collar fits and works under the lower hanger-lug 58, in which saidarm is seated. A flat perforate lug 65 projects downward from saidcollar, and the upper perforate lugs 66 of the double bifurcated knuckle67 are pivotally coupled thereto by thebolt or.rivet-pin 68. The lowerperforate lugs 69 of said double bifurcated knuckle are pivotallyengaged on the perforate flat lug or head 70 of the wristarm 71,immediately above the collar-flange 72 thereon, and the bolt orrivet-pin 73 secures said pivot-coupling. 74 represents a cross-handle,whose perforate center 75 is mounted and riveted on the lower end ofsaid wrist-arm of said adjustable actuating-stem that throws the switch.

The means of setting up and securing the above-described overhead-switchmain and siding tracks and the general features of their operation havebeen largely pointed out in conjunction with the description of theseveral elements of the invention, and soit is only needed to emphasizesome of the important and unique features for which large practicalfunctional advantages are claimed.

First. I provide a pivotally -suspended hanger 15 for the support of thepivotal end of the switch-rail, and thereby avoid the necessity ofhinging the switch-rail to the main-track rail. Thus this obstructivecoupling attachment is avoided, and the loaded wheel runs with morefreedom on the track unclogged by the cumbrous hinge.

Second. The pivotal suspension of the hanger being out of interferencewith the track and of the side flanges of the truckwheels that runthereon, the wear and breakage from the usual obstructive concussionagainst the hinges is avoided. The counterlaps of the ends of the railsand the perforationstherein for the insertion of the hingepin are in thehinged-rail construction points of weakness, where at the same point theobstruction of the hinge causes an extra strain from the passage-of theloaded wheel.

Third. The concavo-convex joint at the abutting ends of the rails, asshown in Fig. IV, provides a peripheral pivot movement at said jointthat prevents any open intermis sion in the continuity of either side ofthe track-rail, and thus avoids the concussive jar incident to thepassage of the wheels past the open joint on the outside of the hingedconnection of the switch-rail when it switches out of line with the maintrack to the siding.

Fourth. The combined switch-bearerslideplate and integral angle-bar inconnection therewith, that in cohjunction carry both the throw end ofthe switch-rail and the hanger- IIO stem system that controls the throwof said I holds said stem which controls the throw of the switch, ismade a justable in its attachment by means of the slotted bearings 56for its screw attachmen t-bolts, so as to adj nst the respectiveattachment of the different members of the switch system, and provide aas the case-may be.

take-11p or relaxing adjustment of said parts, This adjusting device isboth useful when the system is being put up and also for readjustmentafterward, should (as is frequently the case) the bearerbeams thatsustain the system warp or spring.

Sixth. The adjustable slotted crank-head of the operative switch isadjustable at the terminal of its throw in either direction to bring theswitch exactly inline,respeetively, with the main line on the one handand with the siding on the other. This is an evident advantage to reducethe number of accidents from misplaced switches, as the full throwalways bringing the switch in line the switching is effected withmachine regularity.

Seventh. The adjustable operative switching-stem, while it hangs pendentto an ad vantageously low position to be conveniently worked by theoperator, at the same time its double-knuckle joint between its shoulderand wrist-arms provides the means for its swinging out of the way in anydirection when struck by operators, who are frequently passing wit-hloads, thus being always in the way for its work and always out of theway as an obstruction.

.I have shown and described an overhead double switch or switch andsiding system; but I do not confine myself to the application of thisdevice to a double system alone, for it is equally applicable to atriple, quadruple, or any, multiple system to which it is required toattach it.

I claim as my inveution- 1. In an overhead railwayswitch forslaughter-houses, &c., the combination of the bearer-plate 11, havingscrew-threaded perforation 12, the screw-bolts 13, the nuts 14, thehanger 15,11avinglug 16, and hook 5, the headed screw-bolt 17, passedthrough the lug and secured in the perforation, and the nut 18,substantially as described.

2. In an overhead railway switch for slaughter-houses, &e., thecombination of the hanger 15, having a pivotal suspension, theswitch-rail, whose pivot end is carried by said hanger, the combinedintegral switch-bearer, slide-plate, and angle bracket-bar secured tothe bearer-beams that carries the switching devices, the switch-hanger49, that carries the adjustable end of the switch-rail, the slidebearerplate being provided with an elongated. guide-slot and enlargedchannel-groove rccess, and the traveler-bolt 44, whose head travels insaid recess and whose stem travels in said slot as the rail is switched,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In an overhead railway switch for slaughter-houses, &c., thecombination. of the main-track rails 6, the siding-rails 7, theswitch-rails 8, the stationary main hangers 1, that hold the stationary,main,and siding rails in suspension, the pivot-hanger 15, that carriesthe pivot end of the switch-rail to which said end of the rail issecured, the switch-hanger 49, that carries the adjustable end of theswitch-rail which is secured to it, the junction bearer-plate 24,secured to the bearer-beams, and the hangers 27 and 31, thatrespectively carry the switch-junction ends of said main and sidingrails, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an overhead railway-switch for slaughter-houses, &c., thecombination of the main hangers 1, the pivot-suspended hanger 15, theswitch-hanger 49, the switch junctionhangers 27 and 31, the pendentangle carrierhooks 5 at the bottom of all said hangers, the main,siding, and switch rails carried on said carrier-hooks, the pivot end ofthe switch-rail and the abutting end thereof of the main rail beingrespectively provided with corresponding concave and convex ends, thattogether make a concavo-convex joint, and the rivets or bolts thatsecure said rails to said hangers, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

5. In an overhead railway switch for slaughter-houses, &c., thecombination of the combined integral switch-bearer, slide-plate, andswitch-stem angle-bracket, the said slide plate provided with acurvilinear slot 41 and channel-groove, recess 42, the switchhanger 40by which the switching end of the switch-rail is carried, thetraveler-bolt 44, which provides a sliding connection of saidswitch-hanger to said slide-switch bearerplate, the perforate lug at therear side of said switch-hanger, the throw-rod 22, that connects theoperating-stem to said perforate lug of the switch-hanger, and saidoperating stem that aetuates the switch, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

6. In an overhead railway switch for slaughter-houses, &c.,thecombination of the combined switch-bearer, slotted slideplate, and anglebracket-bar that carries the operative stem, the adjustablebracket-plate 53, provided with adj ustment-slots 56, the serewnuts 57,that adj ustably secure said bracketplate to the angle bracket-bar, theperforate lugs integral with said adjustable bracketplate, the pendentoperative double-knuckle stem, and the throw-rod by which said stemcontrols the action of the switch, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

7. In an overhead railway switch for slaughter-houses, &c., thecombination of the combined switch-bearer, slotted slide-plate, andangle bracket-bar that carries the operative stem, the switch-hanger 49,that has a sliding connection with said slotted slidebearer plate, theadjustable bracket-plate 53, the perforate lugs on the side of saidbracket-plate, the shoulder-arm of the operating-stem that is looselyseated in said perforate lugs, the swell perforate head 60, thatsurmounts and is mounted on said shoulderarm, the enlongated crank-loopthat projects from said swell-head, the tl1row-rod 22, whoseattachment-hook connects with the switchhanger, the perforate swell-headof said.rod, and the tie-screw bolt and nut that adjusts the attachmentof said throw-rod to said crank-loop of said Operative stem andconsequently adjusts the action of the throw, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

8. In an overhead railway switch for slaughter-houses, &c., thecombination of the throw-rod secured to the switch-hanger, theshoulder-arm of the operating-stem loosely seated in its bearings, theloop crank-head that surmounts said shoulder-arm, the screwtie bolt andits nut that adjustably connects the throw-rod to said loop crank-head,the

pendent collar 64 on said operative stem, the perforate lug dependentfrom said collar, the double bifurcated knuckle pivoted to saidshoulder-arm, the wrist-arm 71, pivoted tosaid double knuckle, and thecross-handle 74, that is secured transversely on the bottom of saidwrist-arm, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

FREDERICK SOHRAUDNER. In presence of BENJN. A. KN GHT, SAML. KNIGHT.

